Lead organisation
Partner organisations
- South Downs National Park
- Adur District Council
- West Sussex County Council
- Greening Old Shoreham Conservation Volunteer Group
- Local volunteer groups including the local ornithological society and Butterfly Conservation
Project description
United by a shared vision for Mill Hill’s future, our 60+ strong volunteer conservation group has secured Big Chalk funding to reimagine and revive this rare chalk grassland. This project is driven by six interconnected goals: reviving habitats, boosting biodiversity, enhancing access, empowering communities, embedding sustainable management, and delivering robust monitoring.
We will reclaim land from encroaching scrub, halting degradation and catalysing natural regeneration. Over time, the rare Chalkhill Blue butterfly is expected to return in greater numbers, transforming Mill Hill into a thriving hub of wildlife, natural beauty, and ecological importance. With populations having plummeted from hundreds of thousands to just 47 in 2024, every intervention matters. Each action will be carefully documented, leaving a lasting legacy of nature recovery and community stewardship.
Project location
The project is located at Mill Hill Local Nature Reserve, Mill Hill Shoreham by Sea.
Fit with the Big Chalk Programme
Mill Hill Chalkhill Blue Recovery embodies the Big Chalk vision: uniting people and nature to restore rare chalk ecosystems, strengthen biodiversity, and inspire communities to safeguard wildlife for generations.
- Nature recovery: Reclaiming scrub-encroached grassland, enhancing habitat quality, and supporting the comeback of the Chalkhill Blue butterfly. Every intervention—from habitat creation to rigorous monitoring—is designed to empower wildlife and reinvigorate the chalk landscape.
- Community and collaboration: Our 60+ strong volunteer network drives change through shared expertise, hands-on action, and open access. By connecting people with the land, the project ensures that nature recovery is a collective achievement.
- Legacy and resilience: Through strategic habitat management and ongoing stewardship, Mill Hill will become a vibrant, resilient chalkland, demonstrating how ambition, teamwork, and practical action can turn crisis into comeback and set a benchmark for chalkland conservation across the South Downs.
Wider social and environmental considerations
Sustainability and community impact: By centring sustainability and local ownership, restored habitats will flourish for decades, while communities enjoy and connect with this landscape.
Inspiring future stewardship: Improved access ensures generations of visitors can experience, value, and champion this precious chalk grassland, building a lasting foundation for ongoing nature recovery and community-led conservation.
The Big Chalk programme and Nature Recovery Fund is funded through the Protected Landscapes Partnership, supported by Defra.
Do you have a project that could strengthen the future of southern England’s iconic chalk and limestone landscapes?
The Big Chalk programme brings together a dynamic suite of partner-led projects, each unique in its focus, area, and partnerships but sharing a commitment to our collective vision.
If your project contributes to the Big Chalk mission, we invite you to register it as a Big Chalk Project. Registered projects gain access to networking, shared learning, and best practice—alongside the Big Chalk brand, boosting your profile and connecting you to a powerful, growing network of partners.
Together, these projects form a united effort to secure the future of southern England’s chalk and limestone landscapes, making a lasting impact for nature and communities.